Construction of ships



(Model.)-

E. M. BOYNTON.

Construction of Ships, 8vo. No. 230,998. Patented Aug. 10,1880.

'UNITE STATES PATENT rrrea EBEN M. BOYNTON, OF WEST NEWBURY. MASSACHUSETTS.

CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS, 89C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 230,998, dated'August 10, 1880. Application filed April 10, 1880. (Model.)

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, EBEN M. BOYNTON, ot' West Newbury, in the county of Essex and State ot' lVIassachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in the Construction of Ships, Sie., of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object the production of vessels or hulls for treight-earrying purposes which shall be extremely cheap in construction and which may sui'er serious ruptures without danger of being sunk; and to this end the invention consists in substitutingl for the usual ribs and knees a system of uncut crossed timbers, which serve to support the outside shell or sheathing, and in using, in connection with these continuous timbers, a series otl intermediate filling-pieces. whereby the hull is divided into a large number ot` vertical compartments.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top-plan View ot' my improved hull with a portion of the deck removed to expose the compartments below; Fig. 2, a vertical cross-section on the line .r a',- Fig. 3, a perspective mem-illustrating the manner in which the crossed timbers and intermediate fillingpieces are arranged; Fig. 4, a cross-section, illustrating the manner in which the central passage or gangway maybe arranged; Fig. 5, alongitudinal verticalsection,illustrating the same feat-ure.

In constructing my improved hull it maybe made of any ordinary or desirable form, with the outside shell or sheathing constructed ot' wooden plank arranged in the ordinary manner. Instead, however, of supportingthe shell or sheathing A by means ot' ribs and knees, as usual, I employ a system of uncut crossed timbers, B O, the former extending across the vessel from side to side and the latter extending lengthwise from stem to stern.

As shown in the accompanyingdrawings, the timbers are arranged in a num ber of series or groups, each series consisting ot' anumber ot' timbers arranged one above another in the same vert-ical plane parallel with each other. There may be any suitable number otl transverse and longitudinal series, but ordinarily it is found best to employ about sixteen transverse series and two longitudinal series, the

latter arranged one eachJ side ot the keel, at such distance apart as to divide the vessel into three nearly equal longitudinal parts.

In arranging the timbers I tirst place in position two longitudinal pieces or timbers at the bottom at suitable distances apart. I then arrange across said longitudinal timbers, at suitable distances apart, onc single transverse timber, B, one foreach ot' the transverse series. Upon this transverse timber I arrange two longitudinal timbers, placing them directly above the longitudinal timbers lirst placed in position. On this second longitudinal timber I arrange single transverse timbers directly above those first placed in position, then apply longitudinal timbers, and so on successively and repeatedly, placing transverse and longitudinal timbers alternately in position in the manner explained, until the deck level is reached, taking care that the uppermost timber shall run transversely. 't'or the purpose ot sustaining the deck.

The manner in which the two series of timbers are arranged in relation to each other and the manner in which the upper timbers snpport the deck are clearly represented in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

It will be observed that the system ot' continuous or uncut timbers built up in the manner described forms an extremely rigid and strong frame-work, iilling the whole interior of the hull and giving to'the same great stiliness and rigidity.

For the purpose ot' preventing the timbers from springing or moving from their places and ot holding the outer sheathing or planking irmly to its place, transverse tie-rods E- are passed through the vessel from side to side in the manner shown in Fig. 2, and vertical bolts F pass down through the timbers B O, at their points of intersection, as represented in Fig. 3.

For the purpose ot' giving additional stift'- ness and strength, and of dividing the same into a series ot' small independent compartments, filling-blocks or panels Gr are inserted in theiopen spaces between the timbers in the manner represented in Figs. 2 and 3, these pieces being nailed or bolted securely in place and the seams around them tightly calked, so

IOO

as to render each compartment Water-proof and effectual ly shutoff communica tion between it andv the adjoining compartments.

For the purpose ot' giving; ready access to the different compartments, I build in the center of the vessel, immediately below the deck, a central passage, H, having in its tloor doors or openings I, into the central line ot' compartments, and in its sides doors or openings Jv into the side compartiments, as represented in Fig. 4.

Among other purposes t'or which I employ my vessels is that of transporting,` loaded cars ot' coal, for which purpose the vessel is provided on its deck with t'our rails, K, arranged at equal distances apart. When a large number of cars are to be transported they maybe run in two lines or trains, 011e upon each of the two outside rails, upon opposite sides ot' the boat, in which position they counter-balance each other and insure the proper trim or balance ofthe boat. When, however, a small number ot' cars are to be transported they may be run upon the two central rails, directly over the keel of the vessel. Thusit will be seen that by employing the four rails at equal distances apart the vessel is in effect provided with three separate tracks, so that its proper balance may be maintained under all circumstances.

l am aware that it has been proposed toconstruct solid hulls by laying timbers together in a solid compact mass, in successive layers, obliqizcly across each other, each timber to have a small longitudinal hole through the center; and I am also aware that it has been proposed Vto construct the Walls of vessels of numerous small blocks or timbers laid upon each other in such manner as to break joints, and bolted together, and I lay no claim thereto.

My construction is (.listinguishable from others in that I employ long` uncut timbers arranged in numerous vertical series crossing each other in such manner as to form the hull and divide the same into numerous compartments or chambers, and at the same time tie the entire structure together in all directions.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A wooden hull without knees or ribs havingits walls sustained and the entire structure tied together by the numerous series of continuous timbers arranged transversely and longitudinally in the hull between and across each other in the peculiar manner shown and described.

2. A wooden hull havingits interior divided into a series ot' compartments by means of con tinuous transverse and longitudinal timbers B C, extending, respectively, from end to end and from side to side ot' the vessel, and intermediate llingpieces or panels7 in the manner shown and described.

EBEN MOODY BOYNTON.

Witnesses:

P. T. DoDGE, S. M. MADDEN. 

